Superhunt

Chapter 26: "I had intended to take it when I was ready..."

Time was of the essence, and for some, every second counted.

It was a still, clear night without rain or wind. External conditions can affect long-range sniping; a gust of wind or rainshower can throw off the shot. The weather tonight was ideal for a clean kill, which was Jonathan's main reason for choosing this method.

Back home to rendezvous with Fox, Red sent Jonathan a dossier on the squad for the bombing harbor mission. It contained detailed profiles of each member. Jonathan focused on the information for Rose and Snake Python, learning their super abilities. Now, he felt more or less prepared.

22:27

Fox was not at home upon Jonathan return, he going to the armory to procure equipment.

22:28

Jonathan communicated with Rose, finalizing their nocturnal operation's route and the predetermined sniping location.

Rose activated the tracker and listening device on her communicator to connect with Jonathan's, allowing him to monitor her location in real-time. This ensured that Jonathan could hear what they talked about when she rendezvoused with Snake Python.

22:41

Jonathan contacted Red, requesting that he dispatch a covert team from headquarters to blockade the route lest an extreme scenario arise where the assassination attempt failed and Snake Python managed to escape.

"Indeed, I had the same notion, "Red said. "I have faith in your sniping prowess, but we must have a contingency. I'll remotely command the auxiliary team. You focus solely on making the shot."

22:50

Fox returned with the equipment, and Jonathan inspected the weapons, donned his gear, and Fox finished the roast lamb that Jonathan had brought home for him.

23:00

Jonathan and Fox departed their abode, heading for the prearranged sniping site.

23:01

Having concluded his transaction, Snake Python emerged from the casino and contacted Rose.

"Boss, all done with your beauty treatments? Oh good, all finished up," he fawned over the communicator. "Hehe, I just finished my late-night snack too. I'll head over to meet up with you now."

"You didn't sneak off to gamble, did you? You can gamble your heart out after the mission, not now."

Snake Python quickly replied, "Of course not! I was just grabbing a bite to eat. You know I gotta eat to keep my strength up for the job, boss !"

"You'd better not have."

Rose hung up and immediately messaged Jonathan: "Deputy Commander, he's on his way. We expect to rendezvous on Queens Boulevard in fifteen minutes, then head to Dock 5."

"Copy that"

23:16

Rose and Snake Python met at the agreed-upon time.

"Your newly done nails look lovely." nove(l)bi(n.)com

"Spare me the flattery. Let's go"

23:17

Jonathan and Fox reached the assassination site—an abandoned lighthouse at the old pier.

In the days before Black Sea City's port expansion, the lighthouse guided incoming cargo ships and fishing boats to port. After the port's extensive renovation, the pier was extended seaward, evolving into a large-scale dock, and the floating harbor was constructed.

A taller and brighter lighthouse was erected on the floating harbor, and the small landlocked lighthouse was abandoned.

23:23

Jonathan climbed to the top of the tower and emotionlessly assembled the K80 from the case on his back. Methodically, he loaded the bullets one by one, set up the tripod, and attached the silencer.

He breathed on the scope and wiped it clean, ensuring it was sufficiently clear. Peering through, he panned the streets below, scanning for suspicious figures.

Fox, bored, inquired, "They haven't arrived yet. Who are you aiming at?"

"Quiet, don't make a sound."

Fox fell silent.

23:24

Red's voice emerged in Jonathan's earpiece, "The auxiliary team is in position, and the street is sealed off. He'll find it nigh impossible to run away."

"Roger that."

Jonathan took his eye off the scope and glanced at the projection on his bracelet. On the projected map, the green dots representing his team formed a pocket around the street. Snake Python was like a wild boar; they had set a net along the boar's inevitable path. Once the boar appeared, the net would tighten, ensuring the capture of their prey.

23:26

The listening device Rose carried transmitted the conversation to Jonathan's earpiece.

Snake Python: "Ate too much tonight, gotta take a dump."

Rose: "Must you always be so bothersome?"

Snake Python: "I can't hold it in ..."

Rose: "Hurry up! If you delay the mission, I will give you a piece of my mind!"

Snake Python jogged into a public restroom.

23:32

Fox: "Why's he choosing now of all times to take a crap... What's taking so long? This wait is killing me."

23:32

Inside a restroom stall, Snake Python engaged in mental preparation and scenario simulation, holding the glass tube containing the red threadworms. He muttered to himself, "I'll feign nonchalance, pat her shoulder, and surreptitiously deposit the worm. She'll never suspect... No, that won't do. We've never engaged in such intimate gestures before. The closest we've come to physical contact is when she slapped me... Blast it. The mere thought of it infuriates me! How dare she slap me!"

"Pretend to remove something from her hair and slip the worm onto her tresses? That seems rather contrived... Perhaps I could lag a few paces behind and stealthily place the worm while she walks ahead... That might just work."

Snake Python wanted to take a deep breath to calm himself but remembered he was in a restroom. The public restrooms in the harbor area had always been disgustingly filthy, and taking a deep breath here might cause him to retch.

He slapped his face to regain clarity, then washed his face.

He usually wore gloves, which prevented the red threadworms from easily burrowing in. When the time came, he would discreetly open the glass tube in his trouser pocket and silently place the worm on Rose's hair. Since hair lacks sensory nerves, the presence of the worm would go unnoticed. Once it burrowed in, Rose would no longer have constant control over him.

Snake Python put the tube away, composed himself, and exited the restroom.

Rose looked impatient. "We should've been at the target by now."

"Then let's hurry," Snake Python said nervously.

Rose walked ahead, and Snake Python lagged behind, watching for an opening.

23:34

Red reported: "Targets moving again."

"Copy,"

Jonathan's new mask had night vision capabilities, but he still brought backup night vision goggles. With the help of the night vision mode and the scope, nothing on the dock street could escape his watchful eyes.

The dock was eerily quiet tonight. Due to a series of explosions, Dock No. 5 temporarily ceased operations. During the day, workers and construction equipment would come and go, repairing the dock. But at night, the place was deserted.

The lighthouse had lost its brilliance, standing as a silent sentinel on the dock. From the topmost window, the dark barrel of a gun protruded. Under the cover of night, no one noticed someone hidden within.

23:36

Snake Python, making sure Rose in front of him had no intention of looking back, quietly unscrewed the glass tube with two fingers. He softened his footsteps and quickly took two steps to catch up with Rose, swiftly placing the worm on her head.

However, he underestimated Rose.

She sensed the flow of the wind and reflexively dodged, her right hand subconsciously reaching for her head.

If Rose hadn't known of Snake Python's betrayal, her reaction wouldn't have been so swift. But since she knew he was a traitor, she had become wary of him and no longer trusted him as she had before, no longer being unguarded against his subtle movements.

Rose turned to face Snake Python, simultaneously stepping back to create distance between them. Her expression and demeanor completely changed, becoming cold and solemn.

Suddenly, Rose felt an itch on her scalp as a tiny red threadworm burrowed into her flesh, its tail vanishing from sight.

Her eyes flashed, and she reached to pluck it out, but the threadworm was too fast. By the time her hand made contact, it had completely disappeared into her.

With no hesitation, the battle-hardened Rose drew the dagger from her waist with her left hand and, in one swift motion, sliced off her right hand.

Blood spurted out with a swoosh, staining the ground red as her delicate, manicured, severed hand fell to the floor.

"Snake Python..." Rose's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Snake Python took a step back, his mind buzzing.

"Traitor!" Rose sneered coldly. "Trying to scheme against me? You're not nearly skilled enough. You destroy my manicure... I'll slaughter you!"

At this moment, there was no need for pretense. Snake Python had moved against her, and she had discovered his actions. She knew he was a traitor, and he likewise realized Rose was on guard against him.

The illusion of peace between them was shattered, and once that facade was broken, all that was left was to confront one another.

Rose's left hand tightly gripped the dagger, which emitted a lava-like orange-red glow. The temperature of the blade rose, causing the air around it to warp slightly. She held the heated blade against the stump of her right wrist, and with a sizzling sound, smoke rose as she cauterized her wound.

Snake Python, realizing he had been exposed, thought of fleeing at once.

Rose knew he was a traitor! When did she find out?!

Did she report his betrayal to Red or the headquarters? Were there people... waiting to ambush him?

Fear gripped Snake Python's mind as he activated his super ability. A thin layer of blood-red flame-like material ignited on his body, his muscles swelling to nearly twice their size. He turned and sprinted away, his steps frantic.

Rose tried to reach for her belt but found nothing. Being right-handed, she was not used to being without her right hand and had no other hand to wield a weapon.

"Heh," Rose's face was pale, her expression mocking.

She watched Snake Python's retreating figure, dropped the glowing red dagger, and, with her left hand, pulled a thin, long whip from her waist. The whip was made of sturdy metal wires, suitable for conducting heat.

She lashed the whip, wrapping it around Snake Python's legs, tripping him and causing him to fall to the ground. The strong metal whip was too much for even a muscle-bound man like Snake Python to break free from.

"Deputy Commander, an unexpected situation. I've lost my right hand," Rose's forehead was covered in a cold sweat from the pain. She endured the agony and spoke quickly, "Snake Python tried to attack me. The plan has deviated. He hasn't entered the shooting range or the encirclement yet..."

"Get it. Give me three minutes," Jonathan said.

"Fine. I can hold on for three minutes," Rose replied.

Jonathan hesitantly said, "Red, have the auxiliary squad reposition."

Red responded, "Already doing it. Snake Python, that dumb pig, really knows how to cause trouble."

Jonathan grabbed Fox's hand, climbed out of the lighthouse window, and rappelled down to the ground with the help of a water rope. He ran at breakneck speed.

Jonathan sensed something was wrong through the monitoring equipment. He thought for less than a second before abandoning long-range sniping and engaging in close combat pursuit.

The K80 was exceedingly heavy. Running with it was akin to carrying a weight, consuming tremendous stamina.

Rose held the whip, and from the handle to the whip, it slowly turned the color of a branding iron, an orange-red hue. The color was similar to molten steel and newly formed steel pipes in a steel mill, indicating that the metal's temperature had reached its extreme.

Snake Python let out a miserable scream as his legs, bound by the whip, sizzled and smoked. He endured the pain and turned to pull on the whip, but even with his super ability activated, he couldn't budge the high-tech, high-strength material. He could only try to untangle the whip, his hands and legs scalded to the point of being bloody and mangled.

As Jonathan ran, he listened to the situation on Rose's end through the earpiece. Rose was injured, which greatly affected her combat capabilities.

Rose was a Class B Awakened, with the super ability called "Blazing Blade." She could superheat metal to extreme temperatures, making her blade and iron whip slice through anything as easily as a hot knife through butter.

Snake Python's super ability was "Blood Burn," which allowed him to gain increased combat power by burning his blood. It was an ability that could harm the enemy at the cost of his health. Though it was only a Class C ability, it could rival a Class B awakened individual during short-term bursts. His bulging muscles were incredibly strong. Tests showed that bullets fired from ordinary handguns would get stuck in his powerful muscles, causing no substantial harm.

Only a gun like the K80 could penetrate his flesh and cause real damage.

As Jonathan ran, he saw two motorcycle punks gathered on the side of the street. He stopped, took a turn, and ran over to knock them out with a single punch each.

"Can you ride a motorcycle?" Jonathan asked. "You ride, and I'll aim. Keep it steady."

"I can," Fox replied, straddling the motorcycle and gripping the handlebars.

Jonathan adjusted his posture, sitting behind him. With a twist of the throttle, the Fox motorcycle roared to life. They shot off like an arrow released from its bow.

"Damn bitch!" Snake Python, his eyes red with rage, twisted around and lunged back at Rose, determined to fight her.

Rose didn't engage Snake Python head-on. She couldn't match his strength, especially wounded. Instead, she kept her distance, using her whip to evade and lash him.

Like a spinning top, she avoided his charges, snapping the whip to leave fiery welts across his body. Time and again, Snake Python couldn't even graze the hem of her dress.

He tried to draw his gun, but the moment it touched his hand, Rose's whip knocked the weapon away.

Snake Python wanted to flee, but whenever he turned to run, the flexible whip would wrap around his limbs, forcing him back into the fight. Once, it nearly caught his neck.

While in the' Blood Burn 'state, Snake Python wasn't critically injured, but the searing whip still hurt like hell. His clothes were charred black, and he reeked of cooked meat.

As Rose's whip came at him in a desperate move, he reached out and grabbed the scorching iron, trying to pull her closer to kill her off, much like a tug-of-war.

Just then, Snake Python faintly heard the roar of a motorcycle. Along with it came the sound of bullets being fired from a silenced gun.

"Thud."

A bloody hole appeared in his chest. The hand holding the whip loosened, and the fiery blood burning within him seemed to stall.

23:39

Jonathan and Fox arrived at the battlefield!

Fox drove the motorcycle in a straight line, allowing Jonathan to maintain a stable shooting position.

Jonathan pulled the trigger again, and the silencer emitted a faint sound. Bullets fired continuously, each one hitting Snake Python, the powerful impact causing his body to tremble.

Ten bullets rained down in succession. Fox's water rope wrapped around Jonathan, and with a roll, they both jumped off the motorcycle.

The moving motorcycle, driven by inertia, crashed into Snake Python with a loud bang, turning into a fireball.

Snake Python's sturdy body fell heavily, engulfed by the flames, and he lay motionless.

"Deputy Commander," Rose gave Jonathan a slight smile. Only now did she have a moment to retrieve a healing potion from her belt and inject herself.

"Mission accomplished! Though it was a bit noisy," Fox remarked casually.

Jonathan walked towards Rose, but at that moment, a sharp pain throbbed at his temple. He looked towards the blazing motorcycle beneath which Snake Python's body lay.

The charred tip of Snake Python's foot twitched. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and he lifted the motorcycle, hurling it at Jonathan.

"I had intended to take it when I was ready..." Snake Python spat out the vial containing God's Blood and stood up from the fire, his eyes red as if stained with blood.